Electrical switch box



Sept. 17, 1929. G. B. WADSWORTH ELECTRICAL SWITCH BOX Filed Jan. 9, i920 2 Sheets-Sheen Z22 V911 for.'

Sept. 17, 1929. G. B. WADSWORTH ELECTRICAL SWITCH BOX l Filed Jan. 9. 1920 2 Sheets-Sheen Patented Sept. 1'7, 1929 UNHTED STATES GEORGE B. WADSWORTH,

PATENT OFFICE OF COVINGTON', KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR TO THE WAIDS- CORPORATION OF KENTUCKY ELECTRCAL SWIT CH BOX Application filed January 9, 1920.

My invention relates to switch boxes ar ranged to permit access to the fuses without access to the switch and connected so as to cut oil the current trom the fuses when any opening is provided for reaching` the fuses. It also relates to such switches which have a meter adapted in connection therewith, so combined with the box as to prevent access 'to the electrical terminals at any point between the meter and the box.

Among;` other objects ot' my invent-ion are to provide a means in connection with the meter adapted to permit access from the same into the box, but at the same time by a slight adjustment to remove the meter and still maintain the box tightly closed against access.

The box according to my invention is knockdown in construct-ion and made of sheet metal, the parts being' so arranged that they interlock, thereby permitting the installer to lock the entire box with a single padlock or seal, including in this interlocking, structure the meter adapter.

ln the drawings,

Figure 1 is a perspective View of the upper portion oit the box illustrating the meter adapter.

Figure 2 is a vertical section ot shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective View of the meter adapter.

Figure l is a like view ot' the top plate of the box.

F igure 5 is another like view ot the 'fuse holder.

Figure 6 is an edge elevation of the plate shown in Figure 4:.

Figure 6a is a detail showing the mounting` of the meter plate.

Figure 7 is a vertical section of the box showing'` the switch portion thereof.

Figure 8 is a like view in elevation oi' the box with the cover roken away.

Figure 9 is a detail ot the locking disk on the switch yoke.

Figures 10 and 11 are elevations of the handle. showing the marking impress-ed thereon.

The box is made preferably of pressed steel, and has integral the hoi-,torn and the the parts Serial No. 350,268.

two side walls 1, 2, 2, respectively. The lower end of the box is made up of a plate l which is flanged to engage over the sides, and is tongued into the bottom of the box. The upper end of the box is closed by the flanged plate 5, of which further description will be given, and the lid 6 of the box has a tongue 7 entering the end plate 5, and a slot at the lower end which permits the passage of the tongue 8 on the lower end plate, said tongue S having an eye therein for a padlock or seal. The lid is furthermore flanged throughout to seat over the sides and ends, thereby completely closingr off access from without to the interior of the box.

is will bedescribed, the lid 'has an opening for access to the fuses, which lid is operated in conjunction with the switch throwing devices. In notches Jformed in the side-s ot the box is supported the fuse holder, which is formed with a. base 9, a lower end 10 and an upper end 11, with the two ends equipped with tongues 12 to engage in the notches in the sides of the box. The end 11 is also slotted at 13 to receive the tongue 7 on the upper end of the lid.

The top plate 5 has a wide oval slot 14 therein, alongside oit which are two slots 15, and in trent of which is another slot 16.

l Extending' rearwardly from the center ot the upper end 11 of the fuse holder is a tongue 17, and at each side of this tongue are two additional tongues 18. Preferably the last three mentioned tongues are on a plate 19 which is riveted to the base of the fuse holder near its upper edge.

rThe meter adapter has the usual shell 20 ot a shape to snugly lit the meter and conceal its terminals, said shell being open at the top and bottom. There are hooks 21, 21, depending;` troni the under side of the adapter, which pass through the slots 15, 15, and engage beneath the tongues 1S on the 'fuse holder. The central tongue 22 on the adapter passes into the slot 16.

The meter adapt-er is thus assembled with the box, the steps being to place the fuse holder in the box, set the top plate 5 in place, hook the meter adapter down, and then mount the lid, which last engages with its tongue 7 through the fuse holder and the end 5.

The metal about the oval slot 14 in the plate 5 is bent upwardly at 23, except for tivo tongues which are bent under at Q11, 24, and inserted through slots in a metal plate 25, thereby toi-ming a hin ged iiap. The ridge o metal around the oval slot, which is the line oi communication between the box and the meter adapter, prevents a thief from inserting' a het or pliable piece ot metal between the adapter and the top of the box, and establishing electrical connection with the line. wires running` to the meter. The small flap 25 may be permitted to swing' loose, thereby giving; access between the box and the adapter, or it may be held up to close olf access to the box through the lid 5.

This closed position ot the llap is retained by means of the central tongue 17 on the fuse holder, which in assembling the box may be positioned so that it engages under the flap, thereby holding' it tightly against the end 5. Thus in placing` the plate 5 on the bex, the tlap 25 may be turned up so that it rests against tongue 17.

lVhen it is desired to disconnect the switch and remove the meter from the adapter, the lid is removed, the end 5 shifted slightly, after which the flap is raised and the end 5 then moved into place so as to cause the flap to rest on the tongue, after which the lid 6 is again set in place.

While no particular reference has been made to alternative struc-tures, it is not desired that the elaini that follows be limited beyond the fair limitof mechanical equiva lents to the structru'es set forth therein.

Having` thus described my invention, what l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A sealed switch and meter protective cabinet having a removable wall provided with an opening` rer the passage et wires from a meter, a tuse mouratingl `within the cabinet positioned adjacent the said opening', a hinged closure for the said opening` posin tioned te swing to open position Within the labinet and means inceriorated with the fuse mounting` and the removable Wall Whereby the cabinet may be assembled with the hinged closure, either in the open position or in the closed position, locked against opening except by removal ot the Wall.

GEORGE B. VADSVORTH. 

